The Reagan Show — Trailer

Long before he got into politics, 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan had established a successful career in radio and film. Some say it was his training as a professional Hollywood actor that helped propel him into the governor's mansion and eventually into the White House.

His ability to work a camera and speak with such charisma was unlike any politician we'd seen before. His speeches weren't long-winded diatribes. They were like lines from a movie: "Tear down this wall!" And "Make America great again." (Yeah, that was one of Reagan's catchphrases before a certain someone stole it for himself.)

In the upcoming documentary "The Reagan Show," filmmakers Sierra Pettengill (producer of "Cutie and the Boxer") and Pacho Velez (director of "Manakamana") are examining Reagan's presidency but through the prism of his public image and the contentious relationship he had with the media.

Comprised entirely through archival footage including rarely seen outtakes and behind-the-scenes material, "The Reagan Show" offers a unique insight into what many have viewed as America's first entertainer-turned-president.

The documentary, which recently premiered to strong reviews at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, will be released in theaters on June 30th It's also slated to air on CNN later in the year.

synopsis: Told solely through archival footage and set against the backdrop of the Cold War, THE REAGAN SHOW presents the pageantry, absurdity and charisma of a prolific actor’s defining role: Leader of the Free World.